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I live in a hilly region where you can be in a radio shadow just 5 miles outside town. For local information, nothing else is as reliable as AM radio. While you

by wrp 3y ago

I live in a hilly region where you can be in a radio shadow just 5 miles outside town. For local information, nothing else is as reliable as AM radio. While you may not usually be interested in nonprofit/religious/talk radio, they do have a tradition of hosting timely announcements in a crisis.

WarOnPrivacy 3y ago
Your point that the rules are different outside of flatlandia is taken. Your region seems like a useful case study. What are the comms options (wired and wireless, inc internet) for folks who live out a ways? Past that, you might be hinting in favor of my earlier posted fantasy. It's that soulless corps abandon AM and it becomes affordable to the point where AM is local everywhere.
- wrp 3y ago
  It's been a few decades since I lived out in the boonies, so I don't know how things have improved. It used to be there was cell coverage only near the main roads and cable limited similarly. I could get a couple FM stations where I was and no TV, and I wasn't even particularly deep in the hills. The main thing I think hasn't changed much is there are power outages in storms. Also consider that people out there are usually trailing modern tech by quite a bit. Cheap local AM is definitely what we need to keep. I think there are 4 school stations near me now, 2 college and 2 high school. I personally find kids having fun more interesting that adults preaching. :-)
  - WarOnPrivacy 3y ago
    Based on my career tied to broadband deployment, I'll assume wireline internet hasn't meaningfully improved in 20 years. They might have cable but rotting DSL seems more likely. All this to say that wired comms probably aren't disaster ready. Wireless expansions happen though and tend to be pretty robust - until there's an extended power outage. Ice storms, severe storm lines and wildfires are tough on electricity infrastructure and remote areas get repaired last. I guess that takes internet off the table, which supports your position. However, your position might not be at odds with the article. AM radio abandonment is (presently) tied to EVs and those are less practical the farther out you are. It may be a long time before common rural vehicles are impacted. Lastly, battery powered radios get dug out after disasters.

by wrp 3y ago

WarOnPrivacy 3y ago

Your point that the rules are different outside of flatlandia is taken. Your region seems like a useful case study. What are the comms options (wired and wireless, inc internet) for folks who live out a ways? Past that, you might be hinting in favor of my earlier posted fantasy. It's that soulless corps abandon AM and it becomes affordable to the point where AM is local everywhere.

wrp 3y ago
It's been a few decades since I lived out in the boonies, so I don't know how things have improved. It used to be there was cell coverage only near the main roads and cable limited similarly. I could get a couple FM stations where I was and no TV, and I wasn't even particularly deep in the hills. The main thing I think hasn't changed much is there are power outages in storms. Also consider that people out there are usually trailing modern tech by quite a bit. Cheap local AM is definitely what we need to keep. I think there are 4 school stations near me now, 2 college and 2 high school. I personally find kids having fun more interesting that adults preaching. :-)
- WarOnPrivacy 3y ago
  Based on my career tied to broadband deployment, I'll assume wireline internet hasn't meaningfully improved in 20 years. They might have cable but rotting DSL seems more likely. All this to say that wired comms probably aren't disaster ready. Wireless expansions happen though and tend to be pretty robust - until there's an extended power outage. Ice storms, severe storm lines and wildfires are tough on electricity infrastructure and remote areas get repaired last. I guess that takes internet off the table, which supports your position. However, your position might not be at odds with the article. AM radio abandonment is (presently) tied to EVs and those are less practical the farther out you are. It may be a long time before common rural vehicles are impacted. Lastly, battery powered radios get dug out after disasters.